Okay, you guys, I'm so sorry for the extremely long updates, I've been trying to work out where I should take this story to, and now that I got the rough outlines of the plot sorted out, hopefully the updates won't be as slow. Turns out, it's gonna be a little AU-ish, and pretty much angst, angst, angst, and smutty :P.
And Thank you sooo much for the reviews! ^.^ please continue reading and reviewing! I love to know that my fics get read :)
Disclaimer : All the characters in here do not belong to me, the plot though, is mine.
"Fatty." Suigetsu picked a red bean, put it in his mouth and shot it Karin's way.
"you FUCKER!" Karin was pissed of course. How can she not? Being 'accused' as a fatty in front of Sasuke is bad enough, no need to add some spit-covered bean stuck in her bra. Karin got up and excused herself to get the damn nut out of her tits as Suigetsu snickered away before digging back to his food.
Sasuke just rolled his eyes as the two insolent brats never seemed to run out of creativity in ruining his breakfast. Can't they see that he was doing all of them a favor by putting up with all this crap each morning?
Juugo just silently ate quietly in his seat. Really, out of these idiots he had to put up with, Juugo, despite his rare outbursts, is easiest to handle with. Sasuke glanced to the corner of the wall where Itachi stood invisibly. At least Itachi's behaving perfectly. Sasuke smirked.
Karin, trying to get the food out of her bra, noticed Itachi that stood not far from her, quietly watching Sasuke eat. Everyone had been briefed by Sasuke to not give Itachi food whether it was breakfast, snack, lunch nor dinner. Though it's pretty awesome to have the burden of having to prepare food for everyone lifted off her, she kind of feels guilty whenever Itachi would still have to make dinner after cleaning the whole hide-out and doing all what used to be the others' chores.
Sasuke, suddenly feeling rather crafty, purposely knocked some juice onto his own lap. Itachi, who noticed the obviously intentioned act, frowned, as the younger expectedly called him…
"Itachi, take care of this for me… please?" Sasuke pointed at his wet lap with a smirk. Karin, who was done with herself, at first, didn't notice the awkward atmosphere that suddenly settled in among the boys and went back to her seat.
"You d-" did that on purpose. Itachi could've said them out loud if it weren't for his quick logic which reminded him how it all would probably end if he talked back to him.
"What is it?" Sasuke dared him, but Itachi suppressed himself from the provocation and just seized the cloth on the sidetable and walked towards the boy. Just then, Karin went to see what was happening with Sasuke, and she immediately took her glass to sip on the juice and swallow down whatever she might have spilled. She glanced at Suigetsu, no wonder he got restless, suddenly looking very focused on his food. Juugo… well, he clearly was chewing way too long. Things got even more awkward as Itachi reached the round table and quietly mumbled 'Excuse me' to Juugo so that he had enough space beside Sasuke to kneel and 'take care' of Sasuke's problem.
Itachi scrubbed mechanically at Sasuke's clothed inner thighs with the cloth. Sasuke's smirk grew, either oblivious to the nervous shuffles from the others, or didn't care altogether. All knew that Sasuke was at it, again.
"It's not there… it's here," Sasuke placed Itachi's hand on top of his soaked crotch. Itachi flinched,
"I suggest you just simply change pants, Sasuke."
"No. I LIKE these pants, now dry them for me." Sasuke laced his controlled voice with a subtle threat and threw his clean napkin to Itachi. Itachi was holding back from snapping. He took a deep breath and let the napkin fall to the floor as he resumed wiping his little brother's juice soaked pants with the cloth he had been previously using.
Juugo suddenly got up.
"Sorry Sasuke, I feel like eating on the front porch…" Juugo took his plate and glass with him, before Suigetsu quickly followed after.
"M-Me too, front porch's cool…" Suigetsu, taking one last look at Sasuke and Itachi, mimicked Juugo, grinned and fled the room.
"Sure." Sasuke replied shortly, honestly appreciating the better privacy. Karin stabbed furiously at her food, hitting the plate underneath with her fork, trying to knock some sense into Sasuke, but apparently, she's as invisible and inaudible as ever.
"That's right Itachi… right there…" Sasuke reached for Itachi's matted hair and stroked it lovingly. Itachi flinched again and swatted the hand away.
"Don't TOUCH ME!" Itachi warned. "Look, just… take off the pants and I'll dry them for you." Itachi despite his words, didn't look up Sasuke's eyes. Sasuke stared down at him boredly.
"You want me to take off my pants here? In front of Karin?"
Oh so he NOTICED I'm here after all. Thought Karin annoyedly.
"Is that what you want? All off along with my boxers in front of an audience?" Sasuke leaned down closer to Itachi's head. Itachi backed away a little and turned his head to the side.
"It doesn't have to be in this room you foolish little bro-"
SMACK! Itachi heard it more than he felt the backhand slap from Sasuke.
"And since when do you feel like you have the right to tell me what to do?" Sasuke grabbed Itachi's jaw back at him. The sting from the hit blurred Itachi's vision so much he decided to just close them. This annoyed Sasuke. Itachi HAS to see him when he's torturing him. He HAS to.
"You're not getting my leftovers today…" Itachi's eyes snapped open.
"What?" Itachi wasn't sure he heard right.
"You're not eating today. My leftovers will be chucked to the bin." Sasuke stated like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Why?" It took all his power to prevent his voice from shaking, but just the thought of having to go through another day without food was too horrifying. Sasuke only lets him eat HIS leftovers, be it breakfast, lunch or dinner. But the thing is, sometimes Sasuke has leftovers, but other times, he finishes it and doesn't. While the others somehow didn't even consider sharing a bit of food with him. Sasuke smirked. Itachi's gaping expression was just too cute that Sasuke decided on compensating… a little.
"But since you were good to me this morning, I'll let you have a bit of egg…" Sasuke said as if he were the nicest person on earth. Fucking bastard. But fuck all pride to the side, Itachi was hungry. Sasuke cut up some of his egg and balanced it with a piece of bean on his fork and held it out in front of the older's mouth. Itachi, like a drawn snake, kept a careful watch at his little brother's expression, clutched Sasuke's thigh and lunged forward to get it. Sasuke could almost taste Itachi's tongue that darted out to bring the food into his mouth.
"Good?..." Sasuke watched him in fascination. Itachi nodded. Sasuke, without much thinking, cut up another piece, this one, bigger, and forked it along with some beans and dabbed it into some tomato sauce. Itachi waited in anticipation as Sasuke's hand ventured his way.
"Savour it, 'cause here's your last…" Sauke smirked, and continued… "And while at it, bend yourself over the table for me…"
Meanwhile on the front porch…
"I can't stand those two!" Karin stomped her way and joined the guys on the front porch's floor. Suigetsu laughed at the distressed woman setting her plate and cup beside him.
"I thought you'd never leave!" Suigetsu teased.
"Are you kidding me?" Karin retorted, trying to calm herself down by deleting all the mental images. The water boy became curious.
"What did we miss? Did Sasuke hit the bro's ass? Did they fuck?" Suigetsu snickered.
"Eww no!" Karin kicked him in reflect. "He hit him alright, but not on the… on the ass!" Karin said as though in Sasuke's defense, though she timidly added "…yet". Suigetsu laughed toothily…
"You're sorely wrong fatty, Sasuke must've ALREADY hit that ass more than you think! Don't tell me you've never heard those midnight and morning noises! Just give up already! The guy likes dudes alright? If you were me or Juugo, you'd still have some chance but-"
"GOD! stop being delusional, it's disgusting!" Karin rained kicks at him in irritation.
"No, YOU are the delusional one. Sasuke's GAY, Karin. And he's FUCKING with his bro. Deal with it." Suigetsu was persistent.
"Shut uuuuuup!" Karin was on the verge of tears, "Suigetsu you are soo fucking annoying!"
"I'm not Annoying! You're-"
"Both of you SHUT UP!" Juugo bursted out. His eyes gleamed dangerously. The other two quieted down immediately, still glaring at each other. Juugo spoke again with a volume close to a whisper,
"Don't any of you two realize how sad this situation has become? HUH?" Finally getting the both of their attention, Juugo continued…
"Don't any of you think about how this party's going nowhere? Neither of us had ever even done anything more useful than hunting pigs or bolting the doors and windows!"
"He's working out a plan for us all! We should support him while he's at it!" Karin defended.
"I doubt that, Karin. The guy only train, read and hunt by himself and God knows do what behind closed doors with Itachi, all day long" Juugo rebutted mournfully.
"He's working out a plan for him and his brother! None of us are gonna be in it!" Suigetsu added to Juugo's reasoning.
"He's NOT!" Karin hissed.
"He IS!" Suigetsu hissed back.
"He's N-"
Oww… S-SASUKE!
The faint noise of Itachi whimpering and things breaking from inside the house brought the trio's conversation to a halt. Karin's and Juugo's eyes grew the size of plates, while Suigetsu had that smug look of 'told y'all so!'.
Karin went to the bathroom to the sound of light wheezing and running water. Sasuke was out hunting with Juugo and Suigetsu, so today, she was given the task to keep an eye on Itachi after, as usual, reminding her of 'the rules'.
"Itachi-san?..." Karin knocked on the frosted glass door. She noticed the older uchiha hadn't left the bathroom ever since she and the others got back inside and the boys left the mansion an hour ago. "Are you okay?" the sound of a tap turning and running water stopped as Itachi answered…
"Yes Karin-san, I'm sorry, I'll hurry…" His voice, though a little soft, sounded controlled as ever.
"No, it's okay, I mean… Do you need any help?" She tried to sound as casual as possible since she knew how the uchihas hated being dependent in the slightest.
"No, I'm fine… thank you. I'll be out in a minute." Karin replied 'Okay' and walked towards the living room, passing by the dining table that looked like a shipwreck. She knows she's not supposed to help Itachi in any way, but she can't help but to collect some of the broken plates that scattered about the floor. Did they fight again? The answer seemed obvious, but as each day pass by, Suigetsu's predictions as to what goes on between the two brothers seemed to match the situation more and more. It hurts to be shoved reality up her face that things really doesn't seem to ever gonna work out between Sasuke and her, but, every time she sees a new funny-looking bruise on Itachi's face, or hears the pained whimpers each morning just like Suigetsu had said, or witness herself on how indecent Sasuke treats his older brother, she could almost… ALMOST… find herself loving Sasuke no more... .
"Please Karin-san, I can handle this!" Karin jumped as cold fingers brushed hers and took the broken pieces off her hand. Karin, though being told off, continued kneeling beside him and picked up the spoons and forks that somehow ended up on the ground.
"Sooo… did you two fight again?" Karin asked carefully, noticing the wet patch on the neckline of Itachi's worn-out white yukata. She noticed Itachi seemed to water and rinse only parts of his clothes frequently lately. She could understand why, despite being soaking wet and all, he still uses it until the end of the day (since Sasuke only provided him with so little garment), Though, for some reason, she really doesn't want to understand how usually a small crimson-ish stain appeared after it got dry or how it disturbingly, always happen after the older brother was with the younger.
"… yes. Karin-san, please don't… help me, I can do this… there are lots of broken glasses scattering around, you can get hurt." Itachi answered shortly, more worried about other things.
"Uuuurgh, like tiny glasses can hurt me… God, that's awful! Don't you guys ever get tired of it?" Itachi sighed warily.
"I'm tired of it. But seems like Sasuke isn't anywhere near satisfied. Karin-san! Please! Whatever am I gonna say if Sasuke sees you with a cut knee or hand from helping me?"
"Meh, Sasuke doesn't even see me …"
"you don't understand, he WILL notice, and he WILL get mad at me, Karin-san… please…" The weary, restrained voice of the pale man was painful enough to make Karin stop and do as she was told. She stood and decided to just tuck the chairs in neatly to the table. Itachi held back from rolling his eyes.
"I'm so sorry Itachi-san…" Karin mumbled.
"It's okay… Huh? Wait, What for?..."
For not being able to help you."I don't know… hehe…" Karin chuckled bitterly as she stepped aside to let the man pick up some more pieces under her sandals. Itachi looked at her quizzically, but chuckled along.
"We're baack!" Suigetsu's chime was heard up until the kitchen where Itachi was boiling some water. The boys are back from their hunt. Itachi quickly rushed to the front door and remembered that the key wasn't with him. He ran back to the living room to the sleeping Karin on the couch. He softly shook her to wake up.
"Karin-san, wake up! The key…" But Karin just mumbled incoherently and went back to sleep. Itachi noticed the key that jutted out of her dress pocket and so he took that instead.
"Helllooooo! Kariiiiiin?" Suigetsu banged the door with his kicks since his hands are pre-occupied with dead rabbits. Sasuke eyed the bolted windows suspiciously, that useless brother hadn't runaway had he?
"Comiing, waait!" Itachi quickly unlocked the door, and at once, Suigetsu marched past him carrying a deer on his shoulder and rabbits in his hands. Juugo walked past him too, carrying a huge basket on what looked like cranberries. Sasuke walked slowly, stopping right in front of him to look him up and down, then scanned around the room.
"Where the hell is Karin? And why the fuck is the key with you?" Sasuke snatched the key off his hand.
"She's-"
"Itachi-saaaan where should I put these meats?" Suigetsu called out from the kitchen doorframe, cutting their conversation.
"Uhh… Ooh! Just put them on the backyard first Sui!" Itachi replied over.
"How about these berries?" Juugo also asked from the kitchen doorframe.
"Uhh, Just put them in the kitchen, thanks Juugo!" By the time Itachi replied Juugo, Sasuke was already sick of waiting an answer from him and walked past him to the living room. It wasn't hard to find Karin lying helplessly on the couch, sleeping soundly in front of the TV which was playing Itachi's favourite mahjong competition program. The fucking bitch actually dared to sleep! Sasuke, blinded by rage, suddenly busted the TV with his sword and woke her up with a violent start.
"*GASP* OHMYGOD! Oh My God! Oh My God… wha-*pant* *pant*wha-what's happening?" Karin was thrown off balance from the couch as she looked at the room with bleary eyes then to the cold stare of her beloved one. The others froze, rooted to the spot as they weren't so sure what really just happened. Sasuke gripped Karin's hair viciously, lifting her up close to his face.
"What… do you think you're doing?" Sasuke asked her.
"A-Ah! Owww! Owwwww Owwwwww Sasuke! I'm sorry! I'm soo soo sorry!" Karin flailed helplessly, still confused at what made Sasuke so angry, but had the feeling of apologizing, fast. Her toes barely touched the ground as Sasuke was cruelly gripping her hair up ruthlessly.
"SASUKE! STOP THAT!" Itachi shouted, running their way. Juugo and Suigetsu also ran their way, but Sasuke suddenly blasted Chidori all around him that sent the other three to the ground in paralysis.
"Listen you… ALL OF YOU." Sasuke made it clear that, even though he was looking at her, he was talking to all of them. "Anyone let my brother even so close as to SEE the keys, let alone TOUCH, one person goes… do you understand that?" Karin, who was affected the worse by the chidori, could only nod stiffly, breathlessly. "Good, DO ALL OF YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?" Sasuke shouted to the other three in the room. Sasuke, assuming the others had nodded outside his sight, released Karin to the ground. "You're lucky I'm in a pretty good mood today…" Sasuke let his sword ride up Karin's body and slice the fabric off slightly as he walked towards his brother's heap on the ground.
"And you," Sasuke rolled Itachi to his back with his foot. "Get up. Prepare my bath, and make some dinner." Itachi just grunted as he refused to look his way, and quickly covered his nose bleed from the mind-numbing electric shock with the back of his hand. Sasuke caught a glimpse though…
"Hey…" Sasuke tried to tilt his brother's face to look at him with his foot, but failed, so he got down on one knee and placed his sword there. "What's wrong with you? Nose bleed again?" Sasuke pried the hands off his face, revealing the pretty messed-up, red-smeared face of his nii-san. Itachi stubbornly still tries to cover his face, but Sasuke had a good grip on his wrists.
"Do you think… you can still make us dinner?" Sasuke asked in a sickeningly sweet voice so very out of character of him. Itachi scoffed,
"Like I ever had a choice with you…" Sasuke chuckled at this, but slapped him anyway.
"You know, you'd be even more beautiful if you weren't just blind… but mute too." Sasuke got up and started undressing shamelessly before him.
"I'm not blind." Itachi defended bitterly, trying to ignore the dirty clothing that was thrown one by one to his face.
"Yet." Sasuke added, hitting the spot right on to Itachi, and discarded his remaining clothings on him before walking to the bathroom and shutting the door.
Karin, slowly crawled to his side and uncovered him from all the dirty clothings, trying to hold back from crying, but couldn't and just broke into a sob. Itachi, who felt something wet hit his cheek, quickly got a hold of his consciousness that threatened to escape him and watched as the girl cried upon him.
"Don't cry Karin-san! Don't…cry… it's okay… you're okay," Itachi wiped the tears away from her while the other boys was still in a haze from the aftermath of the shock. Suigetsu cursed under his breath while Juugo, only silently, clenched his fists.
…to be continued…
